Most permit applications list fees. Some residential building project valuations are based on square footage. Many permits are based on a flat fee effective January 1, 2018. ePermits are now available for flat fee permits.

Yes, the City requires a fence permit. This permit helps ensure that the fence meets zoning requirements, such as where it can be located on the property, maximum height requirements, and type of fencing material.

Yes. There can be no more than one dog, six months of age or older, for each 2,500 square feet of lot area comprising the premises for the dog. There can be no more than four cats, six months of age or older on any residential premises within the City.

No, you do not need a license for a garage sale. Garage sales may not last longer than four consecutive calendar days, may not be held more than twice each year at the same address and garage sales shall be conducted so as not to obstruct or interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

The City does require approval of Charitable Gambling Premise Permits and Lawful Gambling Exemptions. The Minnesota Gambling Control Board regulates and approves all gambling licenses in accordance with City Code Chapter 11. Forms are issued and provided by the Minnesota Gambling Control Board. MN Gambling Control Board

No, if those persons are legally related to each other in a linear relationship such as spouses, grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren and siblings. Family does not include branching relationships such as aunts, uncles or cousins.

Yes. All rental properties must be inspected by a licensed Housing Evaluator. Rental inspections are valid for a period of four years. The City will also accept a Time-Of-Sale Inspection report in lieu of a rental inspection but must be dated one year from the date of the rental license application. A listing of Housing Evaluator can be found on the Rental Housing Licensing page.

The city does not survey lot lines. You may be able to find your lot lines by finding your property irons (iron rods driven in the ground on property corners) by using a metal detector and knowledge of your lot dimension. Property information is available on the Dakota County GIS website.

The adjacent property owner is responsible for clearing the sidewalk of snow and ice within 12 hours after a snowfall. Please call the Service Center to report a complaint about sidewalk shoveling at 651-554-3225.

The City is responsible to implement a program for annual inspection for sidewalk maintenance and repair. If the resulting inspection finds a vertical gap of ¾ inch or more between sidewalk panels, it is considered a tripping hazard. Once a trip hazard is found, City staff will mark the sidewalk with paint to delineate the location of the repair and notify property owners by letter for the necessary repairs.

The beautiful tree-lined boulevards are a valuable South St. Paul amenity. However, one of the results of this amenity is tree roots can push up sidewalk panels and create tripping hazards. The City may make panels smaller (but not less than 4’ in width) around the tree in order to accommodate the tree roots. When the sidewalk panel is removed, the contractor will cut and grind up the tree roots under the panel before pouring the replacement sidewalk panel. The City Policy recognizes that the tree roots may push up the panel again, and if it happens within 6 years of the sidewalk repair, the City will pay 80% of that repair.

The City will not remove a boulevard tree unless it is dead or dying. A tree will be replaced if the boulevard is of sufficient width to limit future damages to City infrastructure and if the replacmeent tree can be located in an area that will support tree growth.

The property owner has a choice to contract privately for the necessary repair work or have the City’s contractor complete the work. The City competitively bids or quotes the sidewalk improvement project each year. The City awards the project to the lowest responsible, licensed and bonded, bidder and City staff will perform the construction administration. If you choose to contract the necessary repair work privately, the contractor must be licensed and bonded by the City and written notice provided to the City Engineer’s office along with a completed permit application to complete the work.

The City will send you an invoice for the work when the contractor has completed all the repairs. You will have 30 days to pay the invoice in full without interest. Whatever portion you do not pay will go onto the property taxes over 5 years with a relatively modest interest rate.

For Street Projects, the City holds an assessment hearing, usually in September or October. After the assessment amount is approved by the City Council, you have 30 days to pay the assessment to the City without any interest charged. After the 30 days, the City sends the assessments to Dakota County, and it will appear on your property taxes with interest over the number of years set by the City Council.

Dakota County handles levied assessments for the City of South St. Paul. Dakota County has a way to view tax information on the property. On the GIS website, click "Quick Search" and enter your property address. Typically a drop down menu appears, click on the address that references Tax Parcels. On the information that pops up, there is a link to "Tax Facts". Click on Tax Facts and review the 2 to 3 page document. For Special Assessments, look at the last page of the Tax Facts to find any levied assessments, what the assessment is for, and pay-off amounts.

Under Minnesota Statutes, Section 435.193 to 435.195, the South St. Paul City Council may, in its discretion, defer the payment of these special assessments for any homestead property owned by a person 65 years of age or older for whom it would be hardship to make the payments. When deferment of the special assessments has been granted and is terminated for any reason provided by law, all amounts accumulated, plus applicable interest, become due. Any assessed property owner meeting the requirements of this law and Ordinance No. 746, adopted under it, may apply to the City Clerk on the prescribed form for such deferral of payments of these special assessments. If you qualify and wish a deferment, then contact the City Clerk at (651)554-3204.

A public improvement hearing is a consideration by the City Council of a street or alley construction or rebuilding, the installation of utility (water and/or sewer) lines or similar work which will be specially assessed against certain properties.

A Public Improvement hearing is held for one of two reasons: 1. a petition by 35% or more of the owners abutting the area to be improved, or 2. the Council may, by its own initiative, call for a hearing on a proposed improvement.

Aside from legal requirements, hearings are held for the purpose of encouraging citizen participation. It is true that the Council is responsible for ordering or abandoning a proposed improvement, but they do so only after they have heard the arguments by the affected residents.

The city is required by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to have a Water Supply Plan. This Water Supply Plan is also part of the city's Comprehensive Plan.

These plans are required and must be approved by various state agencies. The DNR is requiring cities to adopt several conservation measures before they will approve the Water Supply Plan. One of these measures is lawn sprinkling ban during the hours of highest water evaporation.

Another measure is changing the water rate structure to charge more for water use as the use increases. In order for the MDH to issue the city its 2011 Water Appropriations Permit, the city had to get the DNR approval of the Water Supply Plan.

Therefore, the city, like all other cities, had to institute a lawn sprinkling ban. The city bans lawn irrigation between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday. This ban is good common sense and has been widely practiced in other cities for several years.

Soaker hoses are a great way to water your garden, shrubs, and trees. These hoses minimize the water lost to overspray, runoff, and evaporation. However, the sprinkling ban does not allow unattended watering from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The city will allow you to water your grass seed or new sod. While seed requires more consistent watering to keep it wet but without puddles, sod should be watered in the early morning, in the evening, and on very dry and hot days, at mid-day.

The city will leave a notice on your door reminding you of the sprinkling ban the first time. However, further violations will result in a $25 administrative fine, and will double with each subsequent violationwithin a 12-month period.

The standard PIN assigned is the last four digits of your telephone number as it appears in your customer account. If this PIN does not work, you can request that your PIN be sent through email. Or, you can come in to the library with additional identification, such as a driver's license, in order for us to check your record and furnish the PIN to you. You will then be free to change your PIN for security.

Yes and no. We are an independent city owned library. We have our own library board and are not part of a larger system. However, we do share a catalog with Dakota County Library, which means we share materials with them through a courier service. We also share digital resources such as eBooks and online databases.

The standard PIN assigned is the last four digits of your telephone number as it appears in your customer account. If this PIN does not work, you can request that your PIN be sent through email. Or, you can come in to the library with additional identification, such as a driver's license, in order for us to check your record and furnish the PIN to you. You will then be free to change your PIN for security.

Yes! Most materials are renewable, with the exception of Interlibrary Loan items, rental DVDs, high demand items and Lucky Day books. You can renew in person, by phone (651-450-2999) or online. More information on renewals

You can register for Parks & Recreation and CSCC Programs in person at the Central Square Community Center, 100 - 7th Avenue North in South St. Paul. Central Square Community Center has extended hours so evening registration is accepted as well as during business hours. We accept cash, check, Visa, Discover or MasterCard. Some program registrations can be mailed with payment to Parks & Recreation Department/CSCC, 100 - 7th Avenue North, South St. Paul, MN 55075. On-line registration is also available and is a convenient way to register for programs. VISA, Discover and Mastercard are accepted. Click on the On-line Registration tab on the Parks & Recreation Department home page for instructions. You may need to contact our office for your household information. Please call 651-366-6200.

If the garage is in the rear third of the property, it must be set back a minimum of three feet from the side property line, and three feet from the rear property line, unless the garage door opening faces towards the alley, when it must be a minimum of eight feet back from the rear property line. Please review the Site Plan handout for further information.

Copies of police reports should be requested in writing. You may print out a copy of the South St. Paul Police Department Request for Police Data provided on this web site. Once the form is complete, submit it to the Department in person. Many reports are available at no charge.

The Police Department attempts to fill requests as soon as possible. However, information on some reports may be private or confidential. Therefore, the private or confidential information must be separated before copies can be released. As this process takes time, it may take up to 10 days to process requests.

Driving records may be obtained through the Department of Public Safety. Forms are available in the Police Department or you may contact the DPS directly at: (651) 215-1335. You may also visit the DPS website at: www.mndriveinfo.org.

You may request a printed copy of your own criminal history record by writing or visiting the BCA office. You will receive both public and private data. Written requests must include: full name with correct spelling, date of birth and any other names used, including maiden and former married names. Enclose a personal check, money order, cashier's check, certified or business check, for $8.00 made payable to the BCA. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Response time for mail requests is approximately two weeks.

Lobby hours are 8:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The lobby is closed on holidays. Please come prepared with an acceptable form of identification, i.e., driver's license. Fingerprints may be required to verify your identity. There is no fee charged to view your record.

The City of South St. Paul does not have emergency snow routes. However, all publicly owned and maintained streets and alleys will be plowed curb-to-curb for snowfalls of 2" or more. Once city crews have completed plowing the initial curb-to-curb routes, the Police Department is notified to begin tagging cars (snowbirds) which were not moved during the initial (first pass) snowplowing operation. Tagged (cited) cars that are not moved will be towed beginning at 9:00 a.m. the next morning so city crews can complete curb-to-curb plowing of the city streets.

To receive a notification to your e-mail account or a text message to your cellular phone, complete the “Snowbird Notification” form provided on this website.

It is important you are made aware that false claims, deceptive sales pitches, or scare tactics have been used by some water treatment companies. Every person has a right to decide what is best for themselves and their family, and you may choose to install additional water treatment to further lower the levels of contaminants of emerging concern, chlorine, and other chemicals in your water. However, you should be extremely cautious about purchasing a water treatment system. If you are considering the purchase of a home water treatment system, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends the following:

• Make sure the treatment system/device you are considering is certified to achieve the results being claimed. Reliable certifiers include: NSF International, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and the Water Quality Association (WQA). • Make sure the treatment system/device actually addresses whatever issue you are concerned about – no one system will treat all water quality problems. • Work with a reputable water treatment company. • Verify that the installation is done by a licensed plumber or licensed water conditioning contractor (as required by state law). Such plumbers and contractors are licensed through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (http://www.dli.mn.gov/ccld/PlumbingLookup.asp). • Compare water treatment systems and prices. • If you live in a city, contact your local water system for more information regarding your water quality. • If you are contacted by a company to test your water and they say they are working with the city or a state agency, ask for their contact person at the city or state. • Make sure you understand how to properly use and maintain the system; otherwise it may not work properly and, in some cases, can even make your water quality worse. Be wary of companies claiming their system is maintenance-free.

Beware of any sales pitch that involves one or more of the following: • Reciting a list of recent groundwater contamination problems across the state, regardless of whether the contamination actually affects the resident or not. • Conducting a series of in-home “water quality tests” that the salesperson claims indicate the presence of contamination, when in fact they may simply indicate the presence of naturally occurring minerals in the water. • Misrepresenting state and federal drinking water standards, claiming the resident’s water exceeds those standards, and implying the water is unsafe to drink. • Offering a “one-time only” offer of a water treatment system at a “greatly reduced” price, when in fact the systems may be sold at inflated prices.

Anyone who believes they have been provided false or misleading information or that they have been subjected to unfair or high-pressure tactics in the course of a sales visit should contact the Minnesota Attorney General’s office Consumer Complaints division at 651-296-3353 or 800-657-3787 or online at: http://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Complaint.asp

MDH has more information about drinking water and home water treatment systems on their website at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/index.html http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/factsheet/com/pou.html

Water meters and their registers often lose accuracy as the age. therefore, they must be replaced every 20 to 25 years. In addition, the new sytsem will include new water meter technology that will save labor time, ensure accuracy, and minimize the need for utility employees to go on the private property of residents.

Most water meters are located about three feet off the floor in the basement of your home. It is usually located on the wall facing the street.

Water meters can sometimes be found in pits in older homes. The meter is not located outside. If you have a basement that has been finished, occasionally meters have been placed behind walls, in cabinets or other remodeled areas.

In some new condominiums, individual water meters are located in a utility room on the first level.

Your existing water meter will be replaced with a new water meter that contains a radio transmission device. It transmits the reading and a unique ID from the meter to a receiver that the meter reading staff uses.

There is no charge to individual customers for the meter replacement with the standard antenna. The new meters are an investment in our infrastructure that will improve billing efficiency and customer service.

Installers will remove the old meter, install the new meter and clean up the area, if needed. Installers will have you sign a digital reader acknowledging the new meter has been installed, and provide you with an emergency phone number in the event you have questions or concerns after the installation.

For your peace of mind, we require that an adult be present during the installation. The installer will not enter your home unless authorized to do so by someone 18 years old or older. The installer will not enter your home if your children are alone.

You will receive a letter asking you to call Ferguson Waterworks to schedule an appointment. You can schedule this appointment at your convenience, Monday through Saturday. Some evening appointments are available. Installation appointments will be scheduled in two-hour windows of time, for example, 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

PLEASE DO NOT CALL to schedule an appointment until you receive a letter asking you to do so.

Installers are available Monday-Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The schedule office is open Monday - Friday 7:30 to 5 p.m. should you need to re-schedule. The number is 1-888-818-8836 or you can schedule online at www.fergusonscheduling.com. Schedule online

You will need to contact Ferguson Waterworks prior to your scheduled appointment day. The scheduling office is open Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. should you need to re-schedule. The number is 1-888-818-8836 or you can schedule online at www.fergusonscheduling.com.

The project will be done throughout 2013. In most cases, the transition will be completely transparent and will not affect residents. The majority of the work will be performed during normal working hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. however, arrangements for evening or Saturday installation will be available.

The procedure for small commercial and residential water meters will be the same for scheduling purposes. Larger meters will require additional time with installers working to limit interruption of services.

A typical residential installation will take less than 30 minutes, depending on how easily the installer can access your water meter. Ferguson Waterworks asks that you please be at home during the scheduled time.

The installer will turn off the water on either side of your old meter during the installation. A typical installation should take 30 minutes and the water will be turned back on when completed. In some cases, other repairs may be necessary, resulting in a longer interruption of service.

Once water service is restored, the installer will attempt to purse any air trapped in the service line. If some air is left in the line, you may notice a sputtering sound the first time you operate a fixture. This should only last a few seconds and will not cause any harm. The first few gallons of water may be discolored.

You can remove any additional air trapped din your line by running your cold water for a few minutes. Typically, the faucet on your laundry room tub can be opened to flush out trapped air.

The installers can freeze the inlet pipe long enough to replace the meter. If the water needs to be turned off at the stop box, this may involve rescheduling the appointment. If the valve is broken by our installer, it will be replaced.

Please plan to have clear access to the meter when the installer arrives.

The water meter is the property of the City of South St. Paul and homeowners are obligated to provide clear and unobstructed access to the water meter.

If there are boxes or stored items in the way, these items must be cleared prior to the arrival of the meter installer. The installer is not allowed to move your personal items and this may delay the installation process.

If, for any reason, the water meter has been covered by drywall or paneling, it is the homeowner's responsibility to ensure that the meter is accessible.

It is your responsibility to make sure that the meter is completely accessible and the area is well lit.

However, you should be careful not to damage the meter or allow temperatures in your basement to drop to levels that would freeze the meter during the winter months. be especially careful of your meter freezing if you have renovated and your meter is now behind a wall or panel.

You will be charged for replacing the meter if it should freeze or be damaged.

Not necessarily. In come cases, your bill may increase, but only if your current meter is under-registering usage. Presently the majority of residents are paying for the water they actually use, while a few residents are only paying for a portion of the water. This condition is not fair to all customers. The new system will ensure fairness and equality for all the residents and businesses from this point forward.

Your meter will be read at the same interval as it is now. If you receive a monthly bill, your meter will continue to be read monthly. If you receive a quarterly bill, your meter will continue to be read quarterly.

Yes! We'll eliminate the need for manually reading meters. Accuracy will improve. In addition to speed and reliability, we won't have to enter your home, except for period maintenance or replacement of system components, when needed. Physical reads at your residence will not be required. The new meters also have the ability to detect a possible leak in your water system. 90 day usage information on a daily basis will also be available from the new system.

The installers will make every effort to dispatch service personnel as quickly as possible to determine the cause of the leak and to take appropriate action. When your meter is installed, you will receive a phone number to call if there are any concerns or emergencies regarding the meter.

Each radio frequency device has a unique identification number, which is transmitted along with the meter reading. The unique identification number is compared to your account record to ensure that there is a match.

The transmitting devices operate in compliance with FCC 47 CFR Part 15 regulations, which require coexistence with other Part 15 certified devices. Within the 902-928 MHz frequency band, operation is limited to frequency hopping, direct sequence spread spectrum, and digital modulation intentional radiators. This rule facilitates multiple devices operating in the same location. This includes devices such as security systems, pacemakers, cell phones, and cordless phones. The meter/radio’s transmit signal is of very short duration (7 milliseconds), which further decreases the potential to interfere with other devices. For comparison, 7 milliseconds equates to approximately 1 minute per day of transmission time.

Getting a new recycling bin is easy. You can either come to City Hall and pick one up between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm or simply contact your garbage hauler to obtain a bin; haulers provide bins for their residential and commercial customers.

You can either call us at 651-554-3350, or you can use the "Noise Complaint" button at the bottom of our webpage. This button will direct you to a form that you can fill out. It will then be sent to airport management staff. If you want to be contacted, please ensure that you fill out your contact information.

At the current time we do not have any open City owned T-Hangars. We have a wait list that you can add your name to. We cannot forecast the length of time you will be on the list before you get a call. We can take your contact information and pass it along to the hangar owners on the airfield. One of them might be able to rent you a spot in their hangar. If you think you would like to do that, please use the contact form. Ensure that you have your name, phone number, email address, and type of aircraft (high or low wing).

If you need an access card, please come to the airport office located at 1725 henry Ave, South St. Paul, MN 55075 during normal business hours. We will be more that happy to get you a gate card. The fee for a card is $21.43 (tax included). If you only want to walk out and see some aircraft, you can come to the office and walk out onto the ramp area.

Your water meter is located inside. It can be found in the basement where the water main enters your home. It is important to know where your main enters your home because this is also where a main shut-off valve is located.

You cannot always tell if you have a leak. Reading your meter last thing at night and first thing in the morning, will show if water was used. If water was used you should know where it is going. If the meter reading increased you may have a leak.